Improved ceutch



@uitrit faire @anni @vt-"firm Leners Patent No. 79,305, ma June 3o, 186s.

i IMPROVED GRUTH,

@the .tlpzhule nicht tu in there Intim what ma mating im nf the snm.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, A. E. BOWEN, of Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore, and State of Maryland,-have invented a new and useful Improvement in Crutches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, ,and enact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification. J

The drawingroprcseuts a vertical section of my improved crutch.

`The natureY of my invention consists in so constructing a crutch that it can be ad'usted to suit the height of` any person, and also making the arm-piece and the lower end of the crutch elastic.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe itsconstruc- 'tion and operation.

The legs of the crutch are formed of four flat pieces, the twoupper ones, A A, fitting into the arm-piece C, and the two lower pieces, B B, are placed outside the upper pieces, and their lower ends brought together and tted into the top of the metallic socket D. i

The arm-piece C is made of the usual form, and over this is a piece of India rubber, a, or its equivalent, which Aextends from one end to the other of the piece C, and both of these parts are covered with cloth, b, or other suitable material.

Under the bottom and ends ofthe arm-piece C is a metallic plate, c, which is secured to thc arm-piece G by screws d d, which keep the cover b and the' elastic band a in their position. v

At the bottom of the socket D is a plug, E, in the bottom of which is a recess, into which a piece of wood, cork, or other suitable material, may be inserted.

In the plug E is a slot, e, in which is a pin,f, each end of which is fast in the sides of the socket D.

Inside of the socket D, and between the lower end of the legs of the crutch and the top of the plug E, is a spiral spring, F, and, as pressure is applied to the crutch, the plug E is forced upward, and when the' pressure is removed, the spring F `forces it down. Theextent of thcmovement of the plug E is regulated by the slot e.

The pieces A A and B B, forming the legs of the crutch, are held together by bands G G H H.

/On the insides of the bands H H are hollow shoulders g g, into which 'istted a handle or cross-piece, I, which connects the two sides of the crutch.

Through the legs A B are several holes t 7i. i In the bands H Hare thumb-screws iz', which pass through the holes h L in the legs A and B, into the handle or cross-piece I. i

By removing the thumb-screws z'z', the twol portions of Athe crutch may be extended or contracted, und the thumb-screws replaced, which will hold the legs A and B securely together.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An adjustable crutch, constructed in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination of the legs A A and B B, the thumb-screws z'z', the elastic top or arm-rest, and the elastic bottom of the crutch.

A; E. BOWEN, j Witnesses:

EDWARD Porrs, G. E. SANesroN. 

